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Introducing our Latest Changemakers - Backing the Future Cohort Six

The Backing the Future grant program, funded by VFFF and delivered with support from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), champions individuals and groups of individuals working to back young people aged 12-30 in rural and regional NSW and QLD. Backing the Future offers a $50,000 grant over 12 months for innovative projects that are focused on rural and regional young people across one or more of VFFF's four focus areas: Decent Work, Caring for the Environment, Contributing to Society and Exploring Christian Faith and Values.

Ten talented individuals from rural and regional Queensland were selected in May 2025 as Cohort Six of Backing the Future recipients.

Backing the Future is delivered in partnership with FRRR. To find out more about this grants program, click here.

Some of the the early-stage ideas to support young people in rural and regional Queensland are:

Nicholas Marchesi: Goods - Reimagining and Reinventing Household Goods

A community-driven initiative to transform waste materials into durable, fit-for-purpose household goods, empowering remote communities through local design, manufacturing, and maintenance of essential items like mattresses, washing machines, and fridges.

Sarah Tedder: Torres Strait Ride Revolution Project

A program to inspire a generation of active and engaged youth through the power of sustainable mobility and bicycles as a vehicle for social cohesion, climate justice and community resilience.

Lachlann Carter: Story Mountain - Co-designed centres of creative writing

A pilot program to kickstart the development of a multihub creative writing organisation that supports young people to develop creative learning skills, literacy and confidence to express themselves.

Prue Button: Future Grass Growers Forum

A one day forum empowering young people of Western Queensland in agriculture with knowledge, skills, and networks to build successful careers and strengthen the future of regional primary production.

Brodie Germaine: CAMPFIRE: Empowering Indigenous Youth

An immersive cultural program providing Indigenous young people with camping experiences On Country, fostering resilience, identity, and improved health and social outcomes through traditional practices and mentoring.

Ashley Burgess: Reel Voices: Amplifying Regional Stories Through Film

Reel Voices equips regional young people with the tools to capture and share their lives through film, transforming personal challenges into powerful, relatable stories.

Jody Brown: Regenerative Youth Camp

An immersive development program for young people aged 18-25, where they will camp on a cattle station in the rangelands and learn fundamental regenerative principles to build sustainable, ecologically robust systems.

Irene Stanley: Try-a-Trade (Indigenous youth) pilot program

The Try-a-trade pilot program offers a safe environment for young Indigenous people to gain hands-on experience and insights into various trades in the industry.

Jack Smith: Faith Over Fear: Empowering Youth to Overcome Struggles

A project to empower young people in rural areas to overcome struggles through faith, by motivational speaking, rap, and community support, fostering resilience and Christian values for lasting transformation.